Extraordinary Strings and Horns Arrangers Pt.1

Paul Riser

Paul riser is one of the most prolific classically-trained string and horn arrangers to emerge in America. Originally from the city of Detroit, he became a significant mastermind of and contributor to Motown Records definitive signature sound, known as “The Sound of Young America”.

Among Riser's biggest hits as an arranger are "My Girl" (The Temptations),
"Papa Was A Rollin' Stone" (The Temptations), for which he won a Grammy
Award, both versions of "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" (Marvin
Gaye and Gladys Knight & The Pips), "My Cherie Amour," (Stevie Wonder),
both versions of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" (Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye &Tammy Terrell), "If I Were Your Woman" (Gladys Knight & The Pips) and "Tears of A Clown" (Smokey Robinson & The Miracles). He is also the composer of "What Becomes of The Brokenhearted" (Jimmy Ruffin).

Away from Motown, from the 1970s Riser’s string and horn arrangements have graced recordings for The Carpenters, Carly Simon, Quincy Jones, The Doobie Brothers, Tom Jones, Natalie Cole, Pharoah Sanders, Kiki Dee, Johnny Mathis, Patti LaBelle, Stephanie Mills, Anita Baker, Roberta Flack, Michael McDonald, Aretha Franklin and a host of others. During the 1980s he conducted and arranged strings on hits which include "Never Too Much" (Luther Vandross), "Two Hearts" (Phil Collins) and "I Believe I Can Fly" (R. Kelly). Paul Riser's work in film and television include "Mad About You," "Car Wash," "Bamboozled," "Space Jam," "Standing In The Shadows Of Motown", " Four Brothers," "Which Way Is Up" and "Mother, Jugs and Speed."

In the 21^st Century he went on arrange an R&B and Soul classic for Hip/Hop artist R.Kelly, his signature song “Step in the Name of Love”. The song was a dance "anthem" at social and corporate events in the UK and America. Taken from the 2003 album “Chocolate Factory”, the track was a multi-platinum single in America and gold-certified in the UK. “Step in the Name of Love” peaked at number one on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Singles Chart week-ending 6^th December 2003 (1 week). The album “Chocolate Factory” was number one on the Billboard 200 Albums Chart week-ending 2^nd March 2003 (1 week).

Paul Riser is one of the few former Motown arrangers who is still active as a musician, continuing his outstanding contribution to major hit recordings globally.

For his great work over the decades he was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in 2009.

Marvin Gaye’s Landmark Studio Album Pt.2

Van De Pitte conducted a
 recording session

Picture of Van De Pitte conducting a recording with the late Bob Babbitt playing guitar at the session.

He was an American music arranger and bass player. He was staff member of Motown Records  during the 1960s and early 1970s, and is best known for his work at Motown Records especially his tremendous contribution to the “What’s Going On” as the main arranger. During the 1970s, Van De Pitte also did arrangements for the number one on the Cash Box Pop Singles Chart week-ending 14^th November 1970 (1 week) performed and produced by Dean Taylor which was called “Indiana Wants Me.” Another classic track was “If I Were Your Woman” performed by  Gladys Knight & the Pips that also made it to number one week-ending 23^rd January 1971.

 

The Year Was 1965: Significant Events in Motown’s History Pt.1

"My Girl" was the group first  number one
on the Billboard 100 Singles Chart  in 1965.

In 1965 Motown Records had five number one singles on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart. Four of those singles were produced by Holland-Dozer and Holland. The Temptations’ “My Girl” on the Gordy label1965 would become another successful year for Motown with the Temptations’ “My Girl” starting the year in style almost a year after Mary Well’s “My Guy” had reached number one. The song “My Girl” was produced by Smokey Robinson and co-written by his long-term song writing partner Ronald White. The song features the powerful vocals of the late David Ruffin on lead. It went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart week-ending 6^th March 1965 (1 week). The classic hit track also went to number one on the re-activated Hot Rhythm and Blues Singles Chart week-ending 6^th January 1965 (6 weeks). The single also achieved the number two position on the UK Official Pop Singles Chart in 1965.

A live performance of
Jr. Walker and  the All Stars in concert.

Jr. Walker and the All Stars had the first number one of their career called "Shotgun" immediately after dethroning the Temptations on the Billboard Hot Rhythm and Blues Singles Chart week-ending 11^th March 1965 (4 weeks). This was first time that Lawrence Horn received credit for his involvement in producing an act on the label. Berry Gordy Jr. co-produced the track. The session musicians on the track were James Jamerson Jr. on bass, with two guitarists Joe Messina and Eddie Willis, and finally Benny Benjamin on drums gave the track that special touch that sent it to the top of the charts.

In the month of May Smokey Robinson produced his magic formula again with Marvin Gaye, as the latter stepped out of his studio drumming role and turned to singing as the label’s leading up-and-coming male vocalist. Robinson also found time to compose the song “I’ll Be Doggone” with guitarist Marv Tarplin and Pete Moore, founding members of The Miracles, whilst on tour. Marvin Gaye was an emerging genius who co-wrote his first three hit records, “Stubborn Kind of Fellow”, “Hitch Hike” and “Pride and Joy”. He was one of the first artists at Motown to do so. Gaye became brilliant at interpreting other song-writers’ material, improvising and improving on the original song and making it his own in the process. “I’ll Be Doggone” was certainly one of those songs. It topped the Billboard Hot Rhythm and Blues Singles Chart week-ending 22^nd May 1965 (1 week). Each member of The Funk Brothers added their own momentum and richness to the song’s groove helping to send the song to the top! 

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The Year Was 1963: Significant Events in Motown’s History

The number one single "Two Lovers"
taken from album. 

1963 became a phenomenal year for Motown, with three recording acts topping the Billboard Hot R&B Side Singles Chart. The first artist to have achieved such a fate was the late Mary Well with her first number of career produced and written by Smokey Robinson. The single “Two Lovers” peaked at number one week-ending 19^th January 1963 (4 weeks).

The single "Fingertips"
from the number
one album.

This was followed by the then newly signed Little Stevie Wonder with the single entitled “Fingertips (Part 2)” which topped  the singles charts on two Billboard listing: Billboard Hot R&B Side Singles Chart week-ending 3^rd August 1963 (6 weeks); Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart week-ending 10^th August 1963 (3 weeks). Also the single achieved similar success on the Cash Box Pop Singles Chart survey week-ending 3^rd August 1963 (4 weeks). It was the first live single in Billboard history to go to number one. The parent album “The 12 Year Old Genius” became the first live album according to Billboard to peak at number one on the Billboard 200 Albums Chart week-ending 24^th August 1963 (1 week). The entire album was produced by the legendary Berry Gordy, Jr.

Martha Reeves & the Vandellas were first
 female  group to have a major hit
 with Holland-Dozier-Holland
with "Heat Wave"

The following month on the 14^th September 1963, The Martha Reeves &; the Vandellas stayed at number one on the Billboard Hot R&B Side Singles Chart for 4 weeks with their single “Heat Wave” produced by Motown main song writing and music produced team Holland-Dozier-Holland premier hit making team at the label.

The label dominated the number one position that year for total of 14 weeks on the Billboard Hot R&B Side Singles Chart.  All these brilliant tracks and albums released and recorded were underscored by The Funk Brothers with vocal support from The Andantes other members of Motown family.



                                      
                                               
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Significant Achievements in the Detroit Sound Pt.1

The studio album that contains
all three number one hits

Did you know that The Supremes became the first female recording act in Billboard Magazine history to have three number one singles from the same studio album. The album was entitled “Where Did Our Love Go.” The singles that went to number one were “Where Did Our Love Go”, week-ending 22^nd August 1964 (1 week) on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart, week-ending 31^st August 1964 (1 week) on the Canadian RPM Pop Singles Chart and week-ending 22^nd August 1964 (2 weeks) on the Cash Box Pop Singles Chart. This was followed by “Baby Love” which peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart week-ending 31^st October 1964 (4 weeks), Cash Box Pop Singles Chart week-ending 14^th November 1964 (2 weeks) and Cash Box R&B Singles Chart in 1964. The third release from the album entitled “Come See About Me” came later in the year by reaching the number one position on several single charts, such as the Cash Box Pop Singles Chart week-ending 26^th December 1964 (1week), the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart, week-ending 19^th December 1964 (2 non-consecutive weeks) and the Canadian RPM Pop Singles Chart week-ending (1 week).

The Supremes were indeed the first black female recording act from America to have more than one hit single placed at number one on overseas singles chart listings in both Canada and the UK. The song ”Baby Love” managed to top the UK Official Pop Singles Chart, week-ending 19^th November 1964 (2 weeks).

The Four Tops first Trans-Atlantic hit

In addition to the success that Motown Records had with The Supremes, the label was also responsible for the first male vocal recording act to have a number one on both sides of the Atlantic. The Four Tops with “Reach Out I’ll Be There” went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart week-ending 15^th October 1966 (2 weeks), on the Cash Box Pop Singles Chart week-ending 15^th October 1966 (1 week), on the Billboard Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles Chart week-ending 29^th October 1966 (2 weeks) and finally number one on the UK Official Pop Singles Chart week-ending 29^th October 1966 (3 weeks). The track was the second Motown hit single to reach the number one position in the UK after The Supremes with “Baby Love.”

Motown Records managed to have two of their top selling recording acts during the 1960s dominate the number one position on the UK Official Pop Albums Chart for almost the entire month of February 1968. “Four Tops Greatest Hits” was at the top week-ending 10^th February 1968 (1 week) and was followed by The Supremes compilation album “Diana Ross and The Supremes Greatest Hits” week-ending 17^th February 1968 (3 weeks).

All the singles, studio albums and compilation albums listed featured the backing of the legendary Funk Brothers, the Motown Horn section, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra strings section and backing vocals from The Andantes.

                                             


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